Tesco, Napolina, Parioli...I feel stupid

Bella56

OK am I the only one who thought that Napolina was a very special, Italian brand, worth paying a bit extra for? I feel such a fool as having spent 2 seconds googling, now know they are owned by Princes. Not very Italian. But worse, then looked at Pariola from Tesco and they are a Tesco brand, just don't have anything about Tesco on the labelling. Yet cost more than the Tesco branded italian tomatoes.

Time to go with the cheapest and ignore the labels methinks!

kiwikaz

Absolutely ! really worth checking out the cheaper brands and save some cash too.

I noticed in my local T express this morning that a pack of 4 Napolina tomatoes is £ 5.09 !!! Rip off. :eek:

sassyblue

Bella56 wrote: »

OK am I the only one who thought that Napolina was a very special, Italian brand, worth paying a bit extra for? I feel such a fool as having spent 2 seconds googling, now know they are owned by Princes. Not very Italian. But worse, then looked at Pariola from Tesco and they are a Tesco brand, just don't have anything about Tesco on the labelling. Yet cost more than the Tesco branded italian tomatoes.

Time to go with the cheapest and ignore the labels methinks!

Not your fault the supermarkets are hardly going to publicise it are they?

There's a large canning factory near me, in the staff shop you see all sorts of brands labelled up from the same batch, something Tesco sell as a value item will be another supermarkets normal stuff!

One thing l have learnt is to make my own pasta sauces for a fraction of any jars and so much nicer:

Tin of chopped tomatoes - can be value range
Medium Onion
Clove of garlic
Teaspoon of fennel seeds
Tablespoon of dried basil or dried mixed herbs (tastes better with fresh but not always available)

Place the onion, garlic and fennel seeds in a blender with a 1/4 of the jar of tomatoes. Blitz up and then add to the rest of the tomatoes.

Add salt, pepper, chilli to taste and mix with cooked pasta. Gorgeous!

uolypool

Bella56 wrote: »

OK am I the only one who thought that Napolina was a very special, Italian brand, worth paying a bit extra for? I feel such a fool as having spent 2 seconds googling, now know they are owned by Princes. Not very Italian. But worse, then looked at Pariola from Tesco and they are a Tesco brand, just don't have anything about Tesco on the labelling. Yet cost more than the Tesco branded italian tomatoes.

Time to go with the cheapest and ignore the labels methinks!

Hun dont worry I am exactly the same, I bought ages ago a bottle of multi purpose cleaner from the 99p shop.Looked suspiciously like cillet bang. Son used it :eek: and was saying how it wasnt any good and should go back to the more expensive cillet bang. Until I showed him the https://www.cillet.co.uk on the back of the bottle inbetween all the chinese writing;):rotfl::rotfl:

Quasar

I'm Italian, and when I want an Italian product I look that if states an Italian origin. Likewise for products that characteristically belong to other countries, I check that they are produced there. They may be a bit more expensive, but usually it's worth it. For example, I only use extra virgin olive oil: if I don't find an Italian brand (preferably a Ligurian or Tuscan product) I do without it until I can get it. Then again I live in London and it's relatively easy to find genuine stuff here.

Sophie4120

I like Cirio chopped tomatoes - I always buy loads when Morrisons has them on offer

Quasar

Sophie4120 wrote: »

I like Cirio chopped tomatoes - I always buy loads when Morrisons has them on offer

That is an Italian brand through and through, over 150 years old, and not very expensive.

Sacla' is another good brand and their sauces are rather tasty and reasonable, such as their pesto, but I find them a little too salty for my taste. I think you can find it in Morrisons too.

gallygirl

Sophie4120 wrote: »

I like Cirio chopped tomatoes - I always buy loads when Morrisons has them on offer

Quasar wrote: »

That is an Italian brand through and through, over 150 years old, and not very expensive.

My favourite too - much thicker juice than the others. Only 4 cans left :eek: - bring on the BOGOF!

antrobus

Bella56 wrote: »

OK am I the only one who thought that Napolina was a very special, Italian brand, worth paying a bit extra for? I feel such a fool as having spent 2 seconds googling, now know they are owned by Princes. Not very Italian....

And Princes is part of the Mitsubishi Corporation which is not Italian at all. Not one little bit.

Bella56 wrote: »

But worse, then looked at Pariola from Tesco and they are a Tesco brand, just don't have anything about Tesco on the labelling. Yet cost more than the Tesco branded italian tomatoes.

Apparently so. Part of the grand Tesco strategy to capture some of that 'brand premium' for themselves.

Bella56 wrote: »

Time to go with the cheapest and ignore the labels methinks!

A solid and sensible plan.

Bella56

I'm still laughing (through the tears ) about buying Mitsubitshi tomatoes..... thanks for all your replies and tips. I'll have a look for Cirio.

computerfixer

Home Bargains were doing tins of Italian chopped tomato for 29p or 4 for a pound, werent in last time I was there but thought these were goos and dont think had any added salt, had to get Princes ones 4 pack for about 1.20 last time